NEWS

On December 15, APU launched two crowdfunding campaigns: the APU Startup Program, under the direct leadership of President Deguchi, and the Program for Mutual Cooperation for Community Development through International Exchange, which is run by Japanese language instructors at APU. Both campaigns ended on the night of February 14, meeting their secondary funding goals with donations from nearly 300 supporters. We would like to thank everyone who pledged their support.

Crowdfunding Results

APU Startup Program
An extracurricular program led by President Deguchi that aims to support students who want to become entrepreneurs

Number of supporters: 208

Initial funding goal: ¥2,000,000
Secondary funding goal: ¥3,500,000
Total pledged amount: ¥3,744,000

Program for Mutual Cooperation for Community Development through International Exchange
A program run by Japanese language instructors at APU that will work to connect international students with the local community

Number of supporters: 84

Initial funding goal: ¥1,000,000
Secondary funding goal: ¥1,700,000
Total pledged amount: ¥2,055,000

Note of Thanks from President Deguchi

Thank you to everyone for their generous support of APU's inaugural crowdfunding campaigns. We received many wonderful, warm messages of support from people in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, and all across the country. Your kind words filled me with a sense of gratitude as I also feel that they brought us all closer together.

It is our intention to use your contributions together with our resources to contribute to Beppu, Oita, and the rest of Japan to the best of our ability. I feel that our efforts and your support of this crowdfunding activity have also served to grow the awareness of APU among the general public, as well as the number of fans of our university. I look forward to leveraging our talented student body and the diversity that sets us apart from other schools as we tackle yet more challenges in the future.

Upcoming Project Activities

An activity report for the APU Startup Program is scheduled to be held at the APU Tokyo Office on Saturday, June 22.

The Program for Mutual Cooperation for Community Development through International Exchange will hold a “Hirumachi Nihongo” exchange event using yasashii nihongo (easy Japanese) this March to encourage interaction between APU international students and local residents. The event’s goal is to foster connections between the university and the local community.